Should the Book of Enoch be in the Bible? by Tricia Tillin

 Should the Book of Enoch be in the Bible?

by Tricia Tillin

Recently I have seen many people (both Christians and non-Christians) arguing for the inclusion of the Book of Enoch in the bible, indeed, demanding to know why this book was not included. As you will see, there are many valid reasons why this Book is not “canonical”, that is, cannot be accepted as the inspired work of the Holy Spirit.

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The Book of Enoch was known of and quoted from the earliest centuries, but the publication, in the early 1950s, of the first Aramaic fragments of 1 Enoch among the Dead Sea Scrolls profoundly changed the study of the document, as it provided evidence of its antiquity and original text. The official translation of all Enoch fragments appeared in 1976, by Jozef Milik.

What is the Book?

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Hebrew apocalyptic religious text, and contains unique material on the origins of demons and Nephilim, why some angels fell from heaven, an explanation of why the Genesis flood was morally necessary, and prophetic exposition of the thousand-year reign of the Messiah. None of the books are considered to be canonical scripture by the majority of Jewish or Christian church bodies.

The Age of the Writings

The older sections 1 Enoch (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) of the text are estimated to date from about 300–200 BC, and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably to 100 BC. Several copies of the earlier sections of 1 Enoch were preserved among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Book of Enoch was known by Jews and early Near Eastern Christians as well as the author of the New Testament epistle of Jude.  A short section of 1 Enoch (1:9) is cited in Jude 1:14–15, and is attributed to “Enoch the Seventh from Adam” (1 Enoch 60:8), although this section of 1 Enoch is a midrash on Deuteronomy 33:2.  [Source]

Enoch comes as a composite work in five sections from the hand of at least five authors. They each wrote under an assumed name like their fellow apocalyptic authors. Each author chose the name of an ancient because of an affinity with the character. The sections are:

• The Book of Watchers (1–36),
• *The Similitudes of Enoch (33–71),
• The Book of Heavenly Luminaries (72–82),
• The Book of Dream Visions (83–90),
• The Epistle of Enoch (91–105)
• Epilogue (106–108)

Each of these sections shows a purposeful break from the previous chapters, thus suggesting multiple authors. Certainly the books are not written by Enoch of Genesis. Multiple authors alone make the task of identification much more difficult. However, there is an internal unity of themes of restoration and the coming judgement.

Date and Content

The oldest section of Enoch, The Book of Heavenly Luminaries, illustrates the antiquity of the calendar debate in Israel and shows one reason that the Essenes of Qumran kept the book. While Heavenly Luminaries dates from between the fifth and third centuries B.C., the Book of Watchers dates from the third century. The Book of Dream Visions comes from the early Maccabean period followed by the Epistle of Enoch in the first century B.C.

Easily the youngest or second youngest section of the book, scholars still debate what period the Similitudes come from. Though many date the section pre-Christian, others see it as a Christian work and date it accordingly.

While providing all the evidence for an early date of The Similitudes would require a research paper of its own, a summary of the evidence follows.

• The book describes only one advent of the Messiah but Christians believe in two.
• The book makes no references to the death and resurrection of the Messiah.
• The Similitudes contain too few Christological references.
• The Testament of Abraham 11 (1st or 2nd century AD), refutes part of it.
• No Christian author would identify Enoch as the “Son of Man” (1 Enoch 71:14).

Consideration of Canonicity

First Enoch never made a viable bid for canonicity in the Jewish community. While it obviously shaped Jewish thought, only the Qumranites seemed interested in preserving it. They viewed it as an appendix to and interpretation of Scripture instead of Scripture itself.

On the other hand, Enoch enjoys a long history of various Christians arguing for its inclusion or exclusion.

The early Church did not place books in the canon haphazardly. They examined each book and placed it the canon based on function, adaptability and stability, and continuous usage. However, other factors come into play. New Testament books had to:

• Be written by a first century apostle, companion of an apostle, or similar.
• Could not contain teachings that contradict orthodox doctrine.
• The person named as author must BE the author
• The book must demonstrate inspiration from the Holy Spirit.

Fortunately, the community of faith realized Enoch’s failings at several points above, and the book also contradicted accepted doctrine.

Genesis: Almost in the beginning of the book, Enoch lays the blame for the Genesis Flood and introduction of evil into the world at the feet of the fallen angels whom he calls “Watchers” instead of humans as Genesis 1 and 6 do (1 Enoch 7–8).23

Salvation: Salvation comes to those who read the book and pay attention to heavenly secrets and no others. In fact, Enoch presents salvation in a way similar to the Gnostics of later centuries

God: Enoch presents a God so distant and aloof that He requires the unfallen angels to inform Him of events on earth.

Other examples are:

• Restoration will come during tribulation (not at the Cross)
• Semjaza is listed as the leader of the angels, not Lucifer
• Mentions many named angels not found in scripture
• Ascribes all the sin of the fallen angels to one named Azazel
• The flood led to a permanent worldwide restoration
• Fallen angels cannot talk to God
• Bizarre description of Heaven that conflicts with many scriptures
• Very strange description of the earth & universe
• Contradicts the Biblical descriptions of the destination of believers
• Heaven rests on a foundation that is at the Eastern edge of the earth
• Stars come out of portals at the Eastern edge of the earth & move West
• Plural “Satans” instead of one fallen angel.
• Says God requires the blood of the saints
• And much more

Should Enoch be in the Bible?

Short Answer: The Book of Enoch is not Scripture. As such, the Holy Spirit did not lead the church to include it in the canon of Scripture. It shows no sign of being inspired by God the Holy Spirit.